Antique Mikimoto Pearls - Identification

[EmilyBennett]

Hi everyone! My father's great aunt left these pearls to me for when I turned 25 and I was wondering if I could have some help with identification and valuation for insurance purposes? They are so special to me and I'd like to know what I have here. She was a huge collector of jewellery and this is only one of a selection of Mikimoto products in her collection. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They are akoya pearls and the clasp is pretty, but I don't think they are Mikimoto brand, despite the box they are in. The clasp does not appear to be Mikimoto; it says 375 (10K gold) which I have never seen Mikimoto use (typically 18K, sometimes sterling silver), and it lacks the Mikimoto trademark (M in a shell).
Perhaps someone else will weigh in on the metal mark.

We do not do appraisals, but I don't think that necklace is valuable enough to need to be insured. Probably the most valuable part of it is the clasp. That is only monetary value, of course. They clearly have great sentimental value to you.

What they do need is to be cleaned and restrung, particularly if you wish to wear them. It is evident the pearls were worn a lot-- the knots are grimy. The silk will have become weak, making it more likely to break. They will look much better when restrung.

 

[BWeaves]

The clasp is not a Mikimoto clasp. My mother took two strands of Mikimoto pearls and put a double strand clasp on them, so my mother's Miki's don't have a Mikimoto clasp, either. But she did have the Mikimoto serial numbers of the two strands that she kept in the box with the pearls. Unless you have some sort of certificate from Mikimoto stating these are Mikimoto pearls, then the only thing that is Mikimoto is the box. And your auntie may have just repurposed a box from a different strand of pearls.

 

[EmilyBennett]

Thank you so much for your replies! I will definitely get them cleaned and restrung - I've never owned pearls so I really appreciate the suggestion! I think she may have repurposed the box, and I'll have to go through the rest of her collection to see if I can find the matching pearls. Of course they are priceless, but I am glad to know I don't need to get them insured!

 

[Pella]

From what I can see of the hallmark on the clasp it is assayed in Birmingham, England (the anchor mark), is 9 carat gold (the 375) and also I think it is a 9 which precedes it. 9 carat gold is common in both England & Australia. I cannot make out the last symbol, but it should be a letter which would enable you to date the clasp. If you can get a clearer photo of that, I will have a look for you.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

That's right, I got it wrong. 375 is 9 Karat.

 

[EmilyBennett]

From what I can see of the hallmark on the clasp it is assayed in Birmingham, England (the anchor mark), is 9 carat gold (the 375) and also I think it is a 9 which precedes it. 9 carat gold is common in both England & Australia. I cannot make out the last symbol, but it should be a letter which would enable you to date the clasp. If you can get a clearer photo of that, I will have a look for you.

Here is a better quality image of the clasp

 

[Pella]

Thank you for the additional photo. Unfortunately I can't say that it has helped. You are in the best position to see what it is. I have included a link to the Birmingham Assay office's website regarding date codes. From the shape of the stamps I think it is sometime between 1975 and 1999 (but I could be wrong). Start comparing from about page 9 on Date Letters | Search Hallmark Date Letters (https://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/date-letters/)

 

[A Breaker]

Here is the hard thing... there was a akoya pearl die off during the 80's (Red tide, I think)...so that effects how many necklaces/jewelry were made during that time. Then there is also the matter of jewelry firms buying pearls & having them strung on their own personally stamped clasps. There was a "mail-order" company Merlite in the USA that bought pearls & had them strung on their clasps....some are akoyas, some freshwater. Stamps can be made for artists or jewelers to mark clasps or pieces...or clasp can be made with marks. ML could be a firm or jeweler or artist. The box could even have Mikimoto pearls strung on silver and the owner had them restrung on a fancier gold clasp! (Since silver was not very valuable in the UK.)